PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The New York Yankees are one victory away from winning their 27th World Series. The Yanks rallied with three runs after two were out in the ninth inning to beat Philadelphia 7-4 and take a 3-1 Series lead.
Alex Rodriguez delivered the biggest hit of his career, a run-scoring double off Brad Lidge to drive in the go-ahead run. Johnny Damon started the two-out rally with a walk. With the Phillies infield in an overshift, Damon stole second base and raced to third when nobody was covering.
A-Rod's hit easily scored Damon from third. Jorge Posada added two insurance runs with a single. Yankee manager Joe Girardi called Damon's rare double steal by alertly advancing to third "a great instinctual play."
The Yanks got a gutty pitching performance from their ace CC Sabathia pitching on three days' rest. Sabathia allowed three runs on seven hits, striking out six in his six and
two-thirds innings.
Chase Utley's solo homer with two out in the seventh finished Sabathia's night. Joba Chamberlain was the winning pitcher despite giving up a tying home run to Pedro Feliz in the eighth.
Mariano Rivera closed out the Phillies in a one-two-three ninth for his fifth save of this postseason.
The Yankees can win the Series with a victory Monday night in Game 5. The Yanks are going with A.J. Burnett against the Phils ace, Cliff Lee, who dominated the Yanks in a six-hitter in Game 1.
Lee has three victories and a 0.54 ERA in this postseason.
